Jeong Cheong-rae: "Lee Nak-yeon Should Prioritize Team Play Over Individual Play... Words Also Have an Order"

"Ijaemyeong Meeting, What's the Need for Push and Pull?"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon visited Honam last weekend and made a harsh remark that "the Democratic Party must innovate to meet the expectations of the people." In response, Jeong Cheong-rae, a senior member of the Democratic Party, criticized him by saying, "He should focus more on team play rather than individual play."

On the 4th, Jeong said on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs,' "There is an order to work and an order to speech," expressing his opinion.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee, who visited Honam for a 3-day, 2-night schedule last weekend, paid respects at the Gwangju National May 18 Democratic Cemetery and the Mangwol-dong National Democratic Martyrs' Cemetery on the 2nd, and told reporters, "The Democratic Party must achieve innovation that meets the people's expectations to gain their trust and fulfill its necessary role." This aligns with messages from the non-Myeong (非明) faction, and can be interpreted as criticism of the current leadership.

Jeong said, "People are suffering under the tyranny of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, so criticism of this, especially of the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecutor dictatorship regime, should come first," adding, "It is time to speak directly about these issues, and after that, the opposition party should unite and fight well on this matter, saying 'Let's become one team.' That is the proper order and duty." He argued that Lee's remarks were out of order.

It has been ten days since Lee returned to the country, but a meeting with Lee Jae-myung, the current party leader, has yet to take place. Jeong said, "Our meeting is not a coincidence. It was our wish. Isn't there a song called 'Meeting'? Why bother with phone calls and pushing and pulling?" He added, "We are members of the same party, so we should just meet. Is it really that difficult?"

Jeong claimed that while Lee Jae-myung wants to meet, Lee Nak-yeon's side refuses to meet citing 'restoring trust' as the reason. Jeong expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "It seems Lee wants to meet," and "But (Lee Nak-yeon's side) says trust must be restored before meeting, but isn't trust restored by meeting?"

He continued, "Misunderstandings breed more misunderstandings, suspicions breed more suspicions, and if they keep pushing and pulling like this," adding, "At times like this, they should just meet boldly, have a glass of Makgeolli, say 'This is what I think. What do you think?' Among party members, what is there that cannot be said?"

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